Sintering of brass powders having different oxygen contents

Conclusions

As the oxygen content of the brass powders obtained by water atomization increases, the thickness of the oxide films forming around the particle increases in that the quantity of dissolved oxygen remains unaltered. Satisfactory properties of the sintered products can be achieved using powders having an oxygen content up to O.23 wt.% and a uniform thickness of the oxide films. The optimum sintering temperature increases with increasing oxygen content; however, it is possible to establish a regime that ensures attainment of stable properties of the desired level in the materials obtained from the powders containing oxygen in the O.8–O.23 wt.% range.